Switch mechanism



Ju1y29,.-1924. 1,502,82

' 0.,s. JENNINGS swnca laqrumsl rmd m-cn 10, 1922 z smu -sum -1 INVENTORS WITNESSES: $3.3.2C-D W Jenn/Fags O/fler S.

ATTORNEY 0. S. JENNINGS swx'rcn IECHANISI July 1 Filed larch 10, 1922 2 Shuts-Shoe! 2 NVENTOR WITNESSES: af3 Ayn/ g O/A/Er 5. Jennings LATTORNEY Patented July 29, 1924.

UNITED STATES OLIVER s. JENNINos, or wI'LxI NsBUne,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

SWITCH MECHANISL I.

Application filed larch 10, 1922. Serial No. 542,740.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER S. JENNINGS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of O Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switch Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switch mechanism and particularly to safety enclosed switch mechanism of the double-throw type.

One object of my invention is to provide a switch mechanismof the enclosed doublethrow type, wherein the switch is actuated to II open or neutral position, or to either of its closed positions, with a snap action.

Another object. of my invention is to provide a mechanism, having the above characteristics, wherein theactuating mechalo nism is mounted exteriorly of the housing and may be applied to standard doublethrow switches having exteriorly extending operating shafts.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and efi'ective mechanism for effecting operation of a double-throw switch with a snap action.

These and other objects, that will be made apparent throughout the further descrip- 80 tion'of my invention, are attained by means of the switch mechanism hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 isa front view of aswitch ll mechanism embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2is a longitudinal sectional view of the switch'mechanism shown in Fig. 1, showing parts of the mechanism in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view, partially in section and partially in elevation, showing details of the switch-operating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the switch-operating mechanism taken on 48 the line IVIV of Fig. 3, showing parts of the switch mechanism in elevation, and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the operating spring, showing its relation to parts of the mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus includes a metal housing '6 in which is mounted an insulating panel 7. Upon opposite ends of the panel, two sets 0 switch centrally disposed pivot-jaw members 12.

The switch-jaw members 8 and 9 are rovided with terminals 13 and 14 to w 'ch load conductors of an electrical circuit are connected. The switch member 11 comprises two sets of blade members 15 and 16 that are adapted to alternatel connect the terminals 17, connected to t e pivot-jaw members 12, to the switch-jaw members 8 and 9.

Insulating plates 18 connect the blade members 16 and 15, anda rod 19, extending through the plates, serves to so connect the switch members 11 that they are actuated simultaneously to open or neutral position or to either closed position. The plates 18 are provided with slots 21 through which a transversely extending operating bar 22 extends.

The ends of the operating bar are pivoted in the side walls 23 and 24 of the housing. The end 25 of the operating rod 22 is provided with a square portion 26 for the purpose of receiving a ratchet plate 27 that constitutes a part of the switch-actuating mechanism and which is located exteriorly of the housing.

It is an object of my invention to provide simple and inexpensive means for moving the switch member to open or neutral position and to either closed position with a snap action. This object is accomplished by means of the following actuatin mechanism,'which includes an operating liandle 28 that is preferabl made of cast metal and provided with a ousing 29 which surrounds an enclosed operatin mechanism.

The ratchet plate 2 is mounted upon thesquare end of the operating rod 22 and is provided with teeth or stop seats 31 and 32 that are disposed upon one sideof the axis of the ratchet plate, and 33 and 34 that are disposed on the opposite side thereof and which face in opposite directions. The ratchet is also provided with an extension 35 that is adapted to engage stop seats 36 and 37 that are mounted interiorly of the housing 29 for limiting the relative movement of the housing or operating handle with res 105 to the ratchet member or the switch mem sets of stop seats or teeth.

spring terminal 39 and to bias the spring.

The housing '29 is ivoted, for rotary movement, upon a sha 43 that is secured to a bracket 44 which is attached to the side 23 of the'housing by means of screws 45.

A plate 46 is mounted upon the side wall 23 and carries two projecting pins 47 and 48, upon which latch pawls 49 and 51 are pivoted, respectively, the ratchet-engaging ends of the pawl members are biased to.- wards the ratchet plate by means of a leaf spring 52 that is disposed between the free ends of the latch pawls in notches 53 provided for retaining the spring 52 in assembled relation of the latch pawls.

Cam members 54 and 55 are cast integral with the housing, the former having two prominent cam portions 56 and 57 that are adapted to successively engage the free end of the latch pawl 49 when the operating handle is moved in a counter-clockwise direction. The cam 55 is provided with two prominent cam portions 58 and 59 that are adapted to successively engage the free end of the latch pawl 51 when the operating handle is moved in a clockwise direction.

As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the switch member is in the closed position wherein the terminals 17 and 14 are connected. The latch pawl 49 is in engagement with the stop seat 32 of the ratchet 27. Counterclockwise or opening movement of the switch is revented by the latch pawl 49.

ovement of the operating handle. 28 toward open or neutral position, which is midway between closed position, causes the pin 41, carried by the housing 29, to engage the terminal 40 against the pin 42 that is carried by the ratchet member 27.

After the handle 28 is moved beyond a position midway between the closed positions, the cam 56 engages the free end of the pawl 49 and withdraws it from engagement with the stop 32. The spring 38, which, at this time, is under tension against the pin 42, causes the switch member 11 to be moved to open position with a snap action, this movement being arrested by the latch pawl 49 which engages the stop seat 31 of the ratchet member when the switch member has reached open position.

At this time, the nose of the latch awl 51 is forced into en agement with .t e stop seat 33 of the ratchet member and prevents clockwise movement of the switch member. It will be seen, therefore, that the switch is locked in neutral position by the latch pawls. When the hand of the o erator is removed from the operating' han le, it will return to the neutral position with respect to the operating member in response to the centering action of the spring 38.

In order to connect the terminals 17 with the terminal 13, the operating handle is further moved in a counter-clockwise direction and, after it has been moved a predetermined distance, the cam 57 engages the free end of the latch pawl 49 and releases it from engagement with the stop seat 31. The spring 38 is again biased by the relative movement of the operating handle with respect to the switch member and causes the blade member 16 to be moved to closed position with the contact jaw members 8 with a snap action. At this time, the nose of the latch pawl 51 moves into engagement with the stop seat 34 of the ratchet member 37 and retains the blades 16 in closed position.

To open the switch, the operating handle is turned in a clockwise direction until the cam 58 engages the free end of the latch pawl 51 and withdraws it from engagement with the stop seat 34. The nose of the latch pawl 51 will arrest the opening movement of the switch member by reason of its engagement with the stop seat 33. The latch pawl 49 will, at this time, fall into engagement latch pawl 51 and release it from engage- 'ment with the stop seat 33. The spring 38 will then cause, the switch member to be moved to closed position with a snap action.

Should the switch-blade member adhere to the switch-jaw'meinbers so that the tension of the spring is insufiicient to cause opening movement, the switch-blade members may be positively actuated to open position by the operating handle. In this event, the seats 37 or 36 positively engage the projection 35 on the'ratchet member 27 and cause movement with the handle.

' It will be Seen that the device is relatively simple and containsrelatively few parts, and may be applied to boxes of standard construction.

While I have described and illustrated but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the able switch member, an operating handle therefor having a lost-motion connection thereto, a spring for connecting the operating handle to the switch mechanism and for moving the switch mechanism in'response to movement of the handle, stop members f on the switch member, a latch for successively engaging the stop members for retaining the switch member in predetermined positions and cam members on the handle for successively engaging the latch whereby the latch is successively released from the stop members by a progressive movement of the handle in one direct-ion.

2. Switch mechanism comprising a double-throw switch member, an operating handle therefor having a lost-motion connection thereto, two pairs vof st-op members on the switch member, a latch. for each air for successively engaging the stop mem ers for retaining the switbh member in predetermined positions, and cam members on the handle for successively" -engaging one of the latches whereby the said latch 'is successively released from the stop members by a progressive movement of the handle in one direction.

3. Switch mechanism comprising a movable switch; member, an operating member therefor having a lost-motion connection thereto, a spring for connecting the operating member to the switch member and for moving the switch member in response to movement. of the operating member, stop members on one of the members, a latch having a stationary pivot for successively engaging the stop members for releasably retaining the switch member" in predetermined positions, and cam members on the other of first said members for successively engaging the latch whereby the latch is,

successively released from the stop members by a progressive movement of the operating member.

4 4. Switch mechanism comprising a double-throw switch member, a ratchet member carried by the switch member having two sets of. ratchet teeth facing in'opposite directions, a latch pawl for each set of teeth for limiting movement of the switch members in either direction and at predetermined points, an operatin member movable relatively to the switch member, a driving spring for yieldingly connecting the switch member to the operating memher, and cam members actuated by the o crating member formoving the latch paw s to releasing position.

5. Switch mechanism comprising a double-throw switch member, a ratchet member carried by the switch member having two sets of ratchet teeth facing in opposite directions, a latch pawl foreach set of teeth for limiting movement of the switch members in either direction and at predetereither direction and at mined points, an operating member movable relatively to the switch member, a drivin spring for yieldingly connecting the switc member to the operating member, and cam members actuated by the operating member or engaging and releasing the latch members when the operating member has moved predetermined distances.

6, Switch mechanism comprising a double-throw switch member, a ratchetmember carried by the switch member having two sets of ratchet teeth facing in opposite directions, a latch pawl for each set of teeth for limiting movement of the switch members in either direction and at predetermined points, an operating member movable relatively to the switch member, a driving spring for yieldingly connecting the switch member to the operating member, cam members actuated b the operating member for moving the latcli pawls to releasing position, and means for limiting the relative movement of the switch member and the operating member.

ble-throw switch member, a ratchet plate carried thereby and havin two sets of stop teeth facing in opposite 'rections, a latch pawl'for each set of ratchet teeth for limitingmovement of the switch member in predetermined points, an operating member movable relatively to the switch member, a pin secured to and extending from the ratchet member, a pin secured to and extending from the operating member and overlapping the pin secured to the ratchet member, a spring for yieldingly connecting the said pins and for imparting movement to the switch members in response to movement of the operating member, and

cam members carried by and movable with the operating member for tripping the latch pawls when the operating member is moved to predetermined positions.

.8. Switch mechanism comprising a rotatable switch member, a rotatable operating handle therefor having a lost-motion yielding connection to the switch member, a toothed ratchet member secured to the switch member, a latch pawl for engaging the ratchet member and arresting movement thereof 'in successive predetermined positions and cam means for tripping the latch pawl for releasing the switch member in response to a predetermined progressive movement of the handle.

9. Switch mechanism comprising a rotatable switch member, a rotatable o eratin handle therefor constituting a caslng an having a lost-motion yieldin connection to the switch member, a toothe ratchet mechanism part of which is carried by the switch member for arresting movement thereof in successive predetermined positions and cam means carried within the casing for releasmoveredethe ing the ratchet mechanism to permit ment of the switch in response to a termined progressive movement 0 handle in either direction.

10. Switch mechanism comprising a rotatable switch member, a rotatable operating handle therefor constituting a casing and having a lost-motion yielding connection to the switch member, a toothed ratchet member secured-to the switch member, a latch pawl for engaging the ratchet member and arresting movement thereof in succes-- sive predetermined positions and cam means carried by the casing and disposed interiorly thereof for tripping the latch pawl for releasing the switch member in response to a predetermined pro ressive movement of the handle in either direction.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th day of Feb- 20 OLIVER s. JENNINGS. 

